“The way I see it, there are two types of hikers: those who love gear with a slightly bizarre passion (aka “gearheads”) and those who barely even acknowledge its existence…Whether you fall into one of these extreme camps or somewhere in the middle, this book is aimed at you. Your outdoor experience will be a lot more comfortable-and fun-if you know how to ‘MacGyver’ your way out of a sticky situation.” – Kristin Hostetter

Covering all manner of outdoor gear, from boots and packs to tents, jackets and kitchenware, Backpacker Magazine’s Complete Guide to Outdoor Gear Maintenance and Repair offers up the best tips and tricks to keep outdoor gear finely tuned, properly stored, and operating at its best.

Don’t retire a jacket just because it’s torn or buy a new tent because the zipper broke. Learn how to fix these problems and dozens more while saving time and money. This guide book provides step-by-step instructions and detailed color-photos to help walk you through all the repairs. When something is beyond fixing, even for the most skilled DIY-ers, this book suggests when to seek professional intervention and what to consider when it’s time to shop for new gear.

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In creating this book, Hostetter wanted to learn all that she could about the state of the art of gear repair. So she solicited busted, ripped, torn, neglected, and abused gear from Backpacker’s readers, and the boxes flooded in. “I did a ton of experimenting with different techniques and when I was stumped, I sought the advice of dozens of industry experts,” she says. “Then I got my hands dirty and performed all the fixes myself, documenting and shooting it along the way. I loved being able to fix our readers’ gear and send it back to them, as good as new,” she says.

Backpacker Magazine’s Complete Guide to Outdoor Gear Maintenance and Repair is a must have book for any hiker, camper or outdoor enthusiast. In the field, stuff happens, and knowing how to cope can make a world of difference.

Kristin Hostetter has been Backpacker magazine's gear editor since 1994. During that time, she has put thousands of camping and hiking products through Backpacker's rigorous gear testing program. Her travels have taken her all over the world--from Alaska to Iceland, from Wales to Wyoming-- in search of the best testing conditions, which often means the worst weather! Kristin has authored three books: Don’t Forget the Duct Tape, Adventure Journal, and Tent and Car Camper’s Handbook, all published by The Mountaineers. She is also known as the “Gear Pro” on backpacker.com, where she answers questions from readers about all sorts of outdoor skills and gear. Kristin has appeared as a gear expert on NBC’s Today, CBS’s The Early Show, and The Martha Stewart Show, among others. She lives in Milton, Massachusetts with her husband and two sons, all of whom love to join Kristin on her adventures whenever possible.

Backpacker is proud to announce that Backpacker Magazine's Complete Guide to Outdoor Gear Maintenance and Repair by Kristin Hostetter has won a 2012 National Outdoor Book Award for the instructional category. Backpacker Magazine's Complete Guide to Outdoor Gear Maintenance and ...read more

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